For me, the annual New England Society of Children's Books Writers and Illustrators Conference has become synonymous with
Spring. The forsythia blooms, and hundreds arrive in
Springfield, MA hotels with manuscripts, portfolios and business cards; ready to network, get info, and get inspired.
The following is a list of my Top 10 Experiences from the 2014 NESCBWI Conference:
10. Had energizing
conversations with complete strangers (or people I only know online)
At this conference, you can walk up to almost anyone and start talking and end up in a fun and interesting place. Several people I met I found out I already knew online! Illustrators
Lisa M. Griffin and
Greg Matusic and writers
Hayley Barrett and
Josh Funk were among the many people I connected with at the conference.
9. Attended a workshop
about something that’s a little beyond where I am at.
When choosing workshops for the conference back in February,
I threw in one about successful school visits with author/illustrator
Marty Kelley. Have I published a
book yet? No. But I plan on it! So why not sit in on a session that deals with
issues beyond where I am currently at in the process? The session was full of
great tips gleaned from Marty’s many attempts to corral, entertain and inform
large groups of elementary school kids. (Marty's Tip: Showing an animation of a kid
making arm farting noises help!)
8. Attended a workshop
that’s exactly where I am at.
Workshop highights for me were a dummy workshop with
R.W. Alley and a pacing workshop with
Deborah Freedman and
Frank Dormer. Both
workshops addressed the topics I currently need to address: how to use the
book format effectively to tell a story, create tension, and keep readers
engaged and excited. (Deborah's Tips: USE THE GUTTER! USE THE PAGE TURN!)
7. Sat in on keynotes and panels
with publishing industry rockstars
Photo by Lindsay N. Currie
Panels can be mini-reality checks for me. While the
panelists are answering questions about the state of publishing or what kinds
of projects they are likely to accept, I am flooded with the sense that THESE
PEOPLE EXIST. Every day, they are looking at imagery and manuscripts
from people like me. This awareness is like a ticker tape running along the
bottom of the panel experience for me, giving me more information than just what is
being said.
6. Took pictures with aforementioned industry rock stars (see photo of Peter Reynolds above)
5. Received portfolio
feedback from art directors
This is the second year I have had my portfolio critiqued by
art directors from Boston area publishers. Each time and each critique has
brought great feedback that pushes me to do things that maybe I thought I
should be doing anyway, but needed an extra outside push to do it. (ADD
TEXTURE. LEAVE ROOM FOR TEXT. MORE VARIED POINTS OF VIEW. GIVE HIERARCHY TO
YOUR LINEWORK.)
4. Received portfolio
feedback from fellow illustrators
More feedback that helped focus me on the things I am
doing right and the things I really do need to do.
3. Got to chill with
my local critique group peeps
2. Shared my stapler
with my workshop neighbor
In the dummy workshop with R.W. Alley, we worked on
cutting/taping/sketching story text and drawings. I liked the challenge and
push out of my comfort zone to be working alongside fellow author/illustrators, even for an hour
or two, sharing ideas verbally and non-verbally about how we approach
book-making. This kind of camaraderie felt valuable and energizing.
1. Felt a sense of
belonging and purpose.
The conference always gives me a sensation that I am a part
of something bigger, that there are lots of people in the same pursuit and
struggle. This could, of course, make me feel like ugh, there are SO many great
people who are pursuing this, why should I even try? But, at this stage in the
process and hopefully forever, I feel inspired.
The more I learn, the more I improve, the more I work. It feels like it’s all
going someplace good. Back to work! (That's me on the far left by the water pitcher. My tip: Always sit in the front row.)
